New Delhi, Mar 27 (Reporter) Supreme Court Judges Justice B R Gavai and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan will participate in the Mega Legal Awareness Programme Camp-cum-Sewa Apke Dwar in Arunachal Pradesh on March 29 and 30. The initiative aims to enhance legal awareness and accessibility for tribal communities in Dirang, Bomdila, West Kameng District, and Tawang. Justice Gavai is also the Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). As part of their visit, Justice Gavai and Justice Bhuyan will also visit a jail and a children’s home in Tawang, engaging with vulnerable groups to assess their legal needs and ensure their rights are upheld. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by India’s tribal populations, the Legal Awareness programme seeks to bridge the legal gap by ensuring access to justice, rights, and welfare benefits. Under Section 12(a) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, legal aid is a guaranteed right for Scheduled Tribes (STs), ensuring their inclusion in the justice system. In 2024 alone, over 1.3 lakh tribal individuals benefited from free legal aid, reinforcing NALSA’s commitment to justice for all. Arunachal Pradesh, where over 68 percent of the population belongs to tribal communities (Census 2011), requires targeted legal initiatives to safeguard rights and promote welfare. The Arunachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (APSLSA), under NALSA’s guidance and in collaboration with District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), the District Administration, Gaon Burahs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and the District Child Protection Unit, West Kameng District, is organizing this large-scale legal awareness camp. The programme will focus on empowering tribal communities with knowledge of key laws, including the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the Assam Frontier (Administration of Justice) Regulation, 1945, and the Arunachal Pradesh Civil Court Act, 2021. Additionally, awareness will be raised about NALSA’s Protection and Enforcement of Tribal Rights Scheme (2015), APSLSA initiatives, and various Central and State welfare schemes. Participants will receive on-the-spot legal assistance, addressing grievances and ensuring immediate access to legal aid. By reaching the tribal grassroots, NALSA aims to bridge the justice gap and empower marginalized communities, reinforcing the constitutional promise of equality and legal access for all. This initiative underscores NALSA’s unwavering commitment to social, economic, and political justice...////...